President & Founder

Joe Moreno

For most of 2005, Joe lived in East Africa where he was amazed at the power and impact of simple text messaging (SMS: short message service). Throughout some of the poorest countries in the world people who will never own a computer, let alone have Internet access, conduct business, transfer funds, and, most importantly, communicate on a daily basis through SMS text messaging. Joe saw how "offline" people replaced computers, printers, and the Internet with cell phones, fax machines, and the wireless carrier's network.

Upon returning home Joe embarked on two ventures: SMS Pal, Inc. and Acasero, Inc. to reach the overlooked, offline, market of people living in North America.

SMS Pal allows people without Internet access to submit classified ads, using SMS text messaging, that run in local newspapers and online.
Acasero (formerly Ambaza) enables people in North America, who do not have bank accounts, credit cards, or Internet access, to make mobile payments and remittances through SMS text messaging.

Joe worked for Apple Inc. from 1998 - 2007 in marketing and engineering. He is a 1993 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. While serving in the Marines, in both the enlisted and officer ranks, he made three deployments to the Middle East and Africa. Joe's ventures have received mentions on The Frank Peters Show (episode #79 & episode #90). He currently sits on the board of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.

Joe splits his time between Carlsbad, CA and Santa Cruz, CA where he lives with his wife, Laura, and beagle, Cocoa.